Dear Mom, I love you, but please stop forcing marriage on me

You are an inspirational woman and someday I wish I could even be a fraction of who you are. But there’s one thing I don’t want to adopt from you and that is your approach towards marriage. PHOTO: indianexpress.com

Dear Mom,

You are an inspirational woman and someday I wish I could even be a fraction of who you are. But there’s one thing I don’t want to adopt from you and that is your approach towards marriage.

I know you and your sisters got married in your teens because that was the correct thing to do back then and still is for most people. But you brought me up different, you made me believe education is something I should value and you encouraged me to be more confident and outspoken.

I grew up with you constantly saying,

“If you receive a ‘good’ proposal, you should consider it.”

And I did.

That’s the reason I accepted a proposal when I was 21, because subconsciously I felt it was the right thing to do. Halfway through it, I realised our basic values do not match and I may have said yes because of the novelty and excitement of the situation. I admit I accepted it for the wrong reasons, which led me to break off the baat paki later. It was a lesson well learnt which led me to understand the right reasons. Communication, loyalty, companionship and similar thinking are a few of the right reasons, but they differ individually.

You supported me, but little did I know it would become the foundation of future taunts for me. I know you want the best for me, but sometimes I feel you want it for selfish reasons. Parents want to see their children stable and settled during their lifetime, but is that enough reason for you to push me into something I may not be ready for?

I never say no to you when you tell me I have someone coming over to ‘see me,’ but now I feel I’ve become a commodity to be displayed. I say no to all the proposals for a reason mom, because I am not sure he will be the right man for me based on one meeting.

His lucrative business, commodious house and solid degree may be enough for you, but for me, they aren’t. Marriage isn’t a checklist mom and I know you know that. But out of fear of me hitting 30, you want me to accept anything coming my way. Sometimes, I am afraid myself, I wonder if I will ever come across who I will click with, who I will end up liking, but I fight it. Because I know, everything happens in due time.

Mom, I’m fed up of being told how once I turn 29 or 30, I will only receive proposals from old men, or how I will end up like your female relatives who never got married, or how I am too picky and will end up being dependent on my siblings or how I can’t get everything I ask for in the man I want to spend my life with and should therefore ‘settle’ with whatever option I currently have.

This is a choice which will alter the course of my life. Nearly everything will be impacted after taking this decision, since it will be permanent, which is exactly why I cannot rush into it.

As for your fears about me ending up alone and being dependent on others, I won’t, Mom. I have a job, I earn enough to support myself and I enjoy the independence. But that in no way deters me from wanting to settle down eventually and I cannot find it in myself to say yes to anyone just because I may be edging towards the oh-so-scary age of 30. And why is 30 such a terrifying age? Will I lose all semblance of mind or become unappealing as soon as I hit 30?

You may think I am picky, but I think otherwise. All I want is a man who I think will complement me and vice versa.

As if that wasn’t enough mom, I have everyone in the family telling me to consider proposals because,

– Parents know best. (I know they have our best interest in mind, but that does not turn them into soothsayers).

– Arranged marriages always work out better. (Only time can be the predictor of such sweeping statements). I have personally witnessed arranged marriages ending, as well as love marriages.

– Don’t give your parents more stress. (I do not think my parents problems would ebb away as soon as I tie the knot).

My brothers, who I thought would support me on this, tell me the same. We are all products of a society where marriage is the answer to all issues.

It frustrates me. I thought I belonged to a ‘liberal’ family, but at the end of the day, it all boils down to being born a female. Liberal or not, I’ve realised every mother fears her daughter not getting married on time.

I don’t blame you for this, because how can I? You’re only adhering to the culture you’ve been brought up in.

I wish, though, that you could look beyond what’s been fed to you over these years. I wish you could see that I too want to settle down, not because time is running out, but because I too want a partner who I think I can spend my life with.

I know you love me endlessly, but you’ve damaged my confidence, something which you pushed me to build. I sought validation from you but now you’re pushing me to seek validation from the institution of marriage.

Do you think parents should push their children to marry by a certain age?

The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of The Express Tribune.

SavetheVirgin

Marriage does not stop education, You can get world Top education online, The best age to get marry is the teenage because by the time you pass university you will have lots of bad experiences and 99% chances that you are no longer virgin, which effects you marital life….Unfortunately what i observed in schools colleges and iniversities, the girls fleeing with their love birds and 95% have illicit relation, I do recommend early marriage…Recommend

Arsha

How does virginity affect marital life?!!!!
Teenage is definitely not the right time for marriage…. Decisions are more ruled by hormones than wisdom. As for top education online…please tell me one online university that has top ranking and best job prospects?Recommend

MR.X

Early marriage is encouraged by Prophet(SAW) in Sahih Bukhari. You say “Communication, loyalty, companionship ” were important. Most of our anscestors were more loyal than people these days and they developed these traits after they got married(arranged mostly). The westren concept of so called love and marriage has failed(70% divorce rate) and still some people would like to copy the west??Food for thoughtRecommend

MR.X

Agree with you that chances definitely increase but not by this much in Pakistan i guessRecommend

LoveBird

1. What does being a virgin have to do with marriage?
2. Why can’t you go to a regular college or university once married?
3. Did you get a “world Top education online?” Would you describe yourself as being educated?
4. Are “the girls fleeing” with other girls? If so who are they fleeing with, and why is it not called an “illicit relation” on their part?Recommend

i

Virginity does unfortunately affect martial life in south asian countries.Recommend

Mj

Yes, girls should definitely be getting married at 9. We need to follow the timeless traditions of the middle eastern desert.Recommend

SH

You cannot compare the times of our ancestors to the times of now. Things change with time.
Imam Ali (as): “Do not raise your children the way your parents raised you, for they are born for a different time to yours”Recommend

Maddy

This is a really sensitive issue….. The essence of relationship like marriage is consent of both individual….. in arrange marriage proposals one go blind without knowing anything about the other person…….If parents are arranging something….. they should make an assessment by talking to individuals first…..they can see the differences between both and they can make a better judgment because no one knows a person better then his/her own parents ……Nothing should be in hurry……… ….but having said this its not like every person is the same , You cannot apply past relationship situation on everyone, and even if u get to talk with each other its near to impossible to make a judgement in short time ….. U have to build the relation together …u take care of each and every difference of each other……. You can seek good in each other…….Its a long journey……….and one should not start fearing it ………there are a lot of means by which u can check the authenticity and purity of the other person before accepting a proposal(For parents specially)…..but ones its done u have to let go these thoughts and look for the better future……people do really adjust with each other its just one should be flexible enough……………Recommend

MR.X

Allright follow the west, i dont care im just giving advice to my muslim sisters, Most muslims in Pakistan dont like westeren so called value system(which has killed innocent people eg. Palestine etc) which has destroyed the family system and love etc.Recommend

I agree. I just dont think we should discourage it if one is ready(financially,mentally etc)Recommend

MR.X

Yes, The writer seems to be looking for something special, I guess the movies make her dream like this .People should not raise their expectation too much or else discontentment lies ahead(Most Probably) which could lead to, God forbid, divorce.Recommend

Jude Allen

Very well written. I agree 100% – girls are not a commodity and I do not support teen marriages at all. True there are no guarantees on Love or arranged marriages – but to think that parents know best is just an idiotic idea. They don’t! Get over it. I think most women are strong enough to live with the decisions they make in their life once they have reached the right age to decide for themselves. I think that’s the way creating works right? Human beings were born with inherent unlimited intelligence and women are no exception to this magnificent gift. :)Recommend

Anwaar

1) Prophet married at the age of 25.
2) Married a woman of age 40 (would you marry a woman aged 40?)
3) It was a LOVE marriage.Recommend

MR.X

I did not say that, you just assumed it. Though hazrat Ayesha’s marriage was consumated at that age(sahih Bukhari). Im not encouraging it at the age of 9 though. May Allah guide usRecommend

MR.X

Im not against love marriage , when did i say that??I just know that arranged marriages work better as according to statistics.He married Ayesha at the age of six and consumated when she was 9, im not encouraging it marriage at this age though but just telling you it happened. My brother please read Sahih bukhari so we can have a knowledgeable discussion based on facts rather than how you feelRecommend

Zoha Ahmed

1. People pursuing for a perfect relationship never gets the one, for one only gets the kind of person like himself. Bad people are for bad one’s and good people are for good one’s. And after all, no one is perfect. Where people have their good qualities (which in our view is good), there are shortcomings as well. Finding a perfect one will only end up being single.

2. Early marriages are the only solution to finding contentment in life. In present age, young people, under the influence of their emotions, lose their ‘I love You’ virginity at a very early age – usually at college/university level. What’s left there in life if you cant find the one who is free of such past and has a pure soul?

Islam commands us to marry early for a reason and we should better follow it!Recommend

Arsha

Hymen is not created for marriage. Marriage is a human construct while hymen is a natural construct. Hymen thins and is very prone to rupture as girls grow older. A ruptured hymen is also not a proof of woman not being a virgin as most educated people have now realized and often girls dont even realize if their hymen gets ruptured.

Your question…who is stopping a married woman from going to college?…. Please acquaint yourself with ground realities of married Pakistani women and all the social restrictions that are placed on them.

There is also a reason why online education is not yet mainstream. What are the chances of getting a job and being financially independent?

As for “illicit” relation ruining marriage…. More chances of that happening when you are not independent and are married to an immature man. In such cases there may be multiple other reasons that will lead to a broken marriage. Much better for a woman to stand on her own two feet to be able to take care of herself and marry someone who is like minded and mature. I have seen multiple women who have had prior relationships and then found the right guy and are happily married.Recommend

S Hassan

Pretty late but your post caught my eye. Please do not mention Hazrat Ayesha (RA) age at the time of marriage. This is still a debate and most likely a misinformation passed on throughout generations. Open your eyes and brain and think yourself. Why would Prophet (pbuh) marry a girl much younger than his own daughters. It makes no sense and for someone who has read extensively on the Prophet (pbuh)’s personality.Recommend

Pakistani Boy

Karachi people please u tell that i mean “i wanna fall in love with a girl and wanna marry her” is that possible in Pakistan? i mean like dating i’m 15 years old. i mean like in my future?Recommend